Police warn of Brighton Park, Heart of Chicago robberies

Staff report

Chicago police are warning Brighton Park and Heart of Chicago residents after five robberies in the two South Side neighborhoods.

In a pair of robberies in the 4300 and 4400 South blocks of Western Avenue in Brighton Park, four people in a dark SUV approached their victims, displayed a handgun and demanded property, police said in an alert for the Deering District.

The robberies happened within 45 minutes of each other – at 2:50 and 3:35 a.m. – on Oct. 1.

In another alert, residents north of Cermak Road between Paulina and Oakley Avenues in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood were warned about two robbers, both between the ages of 18 and 22, about 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds.

The robbers either punched or pushed their victims, Chicago Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said.

Three robberies occurred between Sept. 29 and Oct. 1, according to police: On Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. in the 2100 block of South Paulina Avenue; in the 2300 block of West 19th Street about 4 a.m. the next morning; and on the 2100 block of South Damen Avenue on Oct. 1 about 9:20 p.m.

Police are asking anyone with information about the robberies to call Area Central detectives at (312) 747-8380.